Safety latch attachment for wallets



Aug. 31, 1 948- E. SCHWARTZ SAFETY LATCH ATTACHMENT FOR WALLETS Filed Jan. 7, 1946" JNVENTOR.

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ELVIN fies- WARM A HORNE YS Patented Aug. 31, 1948 L MITED STATES PATENT FFlCE SAFETY LATCH ATTACHMENT FOR WALLETS Elvin Schwartz, Houston, Tex.

Application January 7, 1946, Serial No. 639,528

1 Claim. 1

The invention relates to a lock or latch particularly adapted for connection to a wallet so as to secure the wallet in the pocket and prevent its unauthorized or inadvertent removal.

It is not unusual for a wallet to fall or be inadvertently removed from the pocket, and the present invention contemplates a simple and economical latch or lock which can be readily manipulated after the wallet is inserted in the pocket so as to latch the wallet in the pocket.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a latch of simple and economical design which is capable of ready attachment to a wallet so as to latch the wallet in ones pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wallet latch made up of a plate having one or more hinged latching flaps thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wallet latch comprising a plate of slightly less width than the wallet, and having hinged flaps on the end thereof which may be extended to latch the wallet in a pocket.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of the latch with one of the flaps extended in latching position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a modified form of connection by which the latch will be affixed to the wallet.

In Fig. 1 the latch is indicated generally at 2, and is arranged for connection or attachment to a wallet 3 shown in dotted lines. The latch is made up of a longiutdinal, flat plate-like member 4 which may be connected by the brads or rivets 5 to the wallet. A plurality of these rivets will be provided.

The plate 4 has the opposite ends thereof slotted as at 1 so as to receive the interfitting tongues 8 on the latching flap 9. A pin Ill serves as a pivot so that the flap 9 may swing about the end of the plate and may be arragned to lie flat against the plate 4 when in retracted or unlatched position, but it may be pivoted to the position of the right hand flap 9 as seen in Fig. 1. In this position the end l2 of the flap extends a substantial distance beyond the edge l3 of the Wallet so that it projects transversely of ones pocket.

In practically every pocket construction the opening of the pocket is slightly less in width than the area of the inside of the pocket so that when the flaps 9 are both extended laterally from the wallet they project across the width of 2 the pocket and prevent the removal of the wallet.

It seems obvious that the flaps 9 can be readily pivoted from inwardly folded position to the outwardly latching position.

In use the flaps 9 will be folded upon the wallet. The wallet is inserted in ones pocket and by inserting two fingers under the two flaps and separating the fingers apart, the two flaps will pivot to extended position adjacent the plane of the plate and form a slightly bent continuation thereof conforming to the curvature of ones hip so as to extend laterally beyond the width of the wallet to engage in the pocket and hold the wallet against removal.

When the wallet is to be removed by the carrier, the flaps can be returned to their folded position in the same manner, by pivoting them inwardly with the fingers.

Of course, there are various types of wallets, but with the usual double or triple folding type of wallet the plate t could be attached on the inside face of the end folding portion; then when the wallet is folded ready for insertion in the pocket, the plate 4 would be in the center of the wallet, but could be readily manipulated to move it to latching position.

In Fig. 2 the plate 4 has been provided with clips I 5, two of which have been illustrated so that the plate may be clipped over the end or edge of the wallet, and the brads 5 dispensed with. In this manner the latch is in the form of an attachment which may be readily clipped upon the wallet.

In actual use it has been found that the latch serves to lift the wallet slightly when the wearer takes a seat. The movement prevents the wallet from being wedged in the pocket and permits its ready removal or insertion while seated.

The invention claimed is:

A wallet safety latch for securing the wallet within ones pocket, comprising an elongate flat plate provided with means for attaching it to an outer wall of the wallet, parallel to and near an end edge thereof, the plate being appreciably shorter than the width of the wallet, so that its ends lie well within the longitudinal edges of the Wallet, each end of said plate being provided with means for mounting a pivot pin therein at a right angle to the long axis of the plate, a short, fiat safety latch plate mounted on each of said pivot pins, whereby both safety latch plates may fall by gravity into their extended latching position within the pocket when tilted outwardly, or may be collapsed to their inoperative position overlying the elongated flat plate;

3 4 the overhanging edges of the wallet serving as stop means for the safety latch plates in their UNITED STATES PATENTS latching position, and permitting the Wallet to Number Name ate flex slightly at its edges to conform to its nat- 163,017 Knapp May 11, 1875 ural position Within ones pocket. 5 673,574 Deovich May 7, 1901 ELVIN SCHWARTZ. 1,121,465 Brown Dec. 15, 1914 1,404,278 Davis Jan. 24, 1922 REFERENCES CITED 1,513,784 Roesner Nov. 4, 1924 The following references are of record in the 1,884,135 New et 1932 filo of this patent: 10 

